Saris Bones rack bad for CAAD9 top tube?
12-13-08, 08:51 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 71
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Saris Bones rack bad for CAAD9 top tube?
Maybe this would be a better question for the mechanics or frame builder forums, but I guessed there would be more experience with the CAAD9 here.
So I recently bought a new CAAD9. I've had a Saris Bones rack (https://www.saris.com/p-299-bones-3-bike.aspx) for a while, and I like it. The rack holds bikes with two arms and straps along the top tube and prevents movement with a strap on the seat tube.
I've read that the CAAD9's top tube is very weak with respect to forces from the side (don't sit on the top tube, for example), and it's easy to dent. Makes sense because that's not its purpose in the frame. Given that, is it a bad idea to haul the bike in a rack like the Saris Bones? I've hauled an aluminum Trek 1200 for a long time in this rack with no problems, but I think the CAAD9's tubes are a bit less robust. Does anyone have any specific experiences with a CAAD frame in a rack like this?
Thanks for any info.
So I recently bought a new CAAD9. I've had a Saris Bones rack (https://www.saris.com/p-299-bones-3-bike.aspx) for a while, and I like it. The rack holds bikes with two arms and straps along the top tube and prevents movement with a strap on the seat tube.
I've read that the CAAD9's top tube is very weak with respect to forces from the side (don't sit on the top tube, for example), and it's easy to dent. Makes sense because that's not its purpose in the frame. Given that, is it a bad idea to haul the bike in a rack like the Saris Bones? I've hauled an aluminum Trek 1200 for a long time in this rack with no problems, but I think the CAAD9's tubes are a bit less robust. Does anyone have any specific experiences with a CAAD frame in a rack like this?
Thanks for any info.
12-13-08, 08:54 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 4,850
Bikes: Yeti ASRc, Focus Raven 29er, Flyxii FR316
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes, I've used a Bones rack on both a CAAD8 and a CAAD9 with no problems whatsoever.
And I've sat on my top tube hundreds if not thousands of times.
Whoever told you that you'd damage your frame by using a Bones is an idiot. Really.
And I've sat on my top tube hundreds if not thousands of times.
Whoever told you that you'd damage your frame by using a Bones is an idiot. Really.
12-13-08, 08:58 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,201
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do the arms of the rack hold the frame more towards the ends of the top tube or closer to the center?
I use Saris Bones on an aluminum bike with no problems, but it is a smaller frame and maybe not as thin walled as your Cannondale.
I use Saris Bones on an aluminum bike with no problems, but it is a smaller frame and maybe not as thin walled as your Cannondale.
__________________
12-13-08, 09:07 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 71
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good point... near the butted ends of the tube, it should be stronger. The arms are probably 10 or 12 inches apart, so they'd end up five or six inches from the ends of the top tube.
12-13-08, 09:13 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
So how much does your whole bike weigh?
12-13-08, 09:13 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,201
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think it will work just fine...unless you're going cross country before you get to your ride i.e. the car is really bouncing the frame on the rack. It is a relatively smooth freeway 30min drive for me.
__________________
12-13-08, 09:14 AM
#7
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 2,173 Times
in
1,464 Posts
Maybe this would be a better question for the mechanics or frame builder forums, but I guessed there would be more experience with the CAAD9 here.
So I recently bought a new CAAD9. I've had a Saris Bones rack (https://www.saris.com/p-299-bones-3-bike.aspx) for a while, and I like it. The rack holds bikes with two arms and straps along the top tube and prevents movement with a strap on the seat tube. I've read that the CAAD9's top tube is very weak with respect to forces from the side (don't sit on the top tube, for example), and it's easy to dent. Makes sense because that's not its purpose in the frame. Given that, is it a bad idea to haul the bike in a rack like the Saris Bones? I've hauled an aluminum Trek 1200 for a long time in this rack with no problems, but I think the CAAD9's tubes are a bit less robust. Does anyone have any specific experiences with a CAAD frame in a rack like this?
Thanks for any info.
So I recently bought a new CAAD9. I've had a Saris Bones rack (https://www.saris.com/p-299-bones-3-bike.aspx) for a while, and I like it. The rack holds bikes with two arms and straps along the top tube and prevents movement with a strap on the seat tube. I've read that the CAAD9's top tube is very weak with respect to forces from the side (don't sit on the top tube, for example), and it's easy to dent. Makes sense because that's not its purpose in the frame. Given that, is it a bad idea to haul the bike in a rack like the Saris Bones? I've hauled an aluminum Trek 1200 for a long time in this rack with no problems, but I think the CAAD9's tubes are a bit less robust. Does anyone have any specific experiences with a CAAD frame in a rack like this?
Thanks for any info.
That rack works well.
12-13-08, 09:20 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,739
Bikes: 2009 BMC SLX01/2016 Santa Cruz Bronson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
I just bought a new CAAD9 and the Saris was the bike rack the LBS reccomended. So far it has worked wonderfully.
12-13-08, 01:43 PM
#9
Old & Getting Older Racer
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,343
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
5 Posts
Hi,
Personally, I don't like racks that touch the frame, but that's just me.
Personally, I don't like racks that touch the frame, but that's just me.
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
12-13-08, 02:00 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CT
Posts: 292
Bikes: LD-796R frame with Rival
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
As was stated you don't have to worry about that rack and you can sit on your top tube without fear.
